- NanoStruct, a deep tech startup from Würzburg, has raised €2.6 million in seed funding led by HTGF, Bayern Kapital, and the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund.
- NanoStruct’s sensor chips can detect Listeria and Salmonella in just a few hours, rather than the usual two to three days.
- Beyond food, the same platform could expand into veterinary diagnostics, pharma and human health testing
NanoStruct, based in Germany, raised €2.6 million in seed funding from High-Tech Gründerfonds, Bayern Kapital, and the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund to help bring rapid pathogen detection to the food industry. This investment follows earlier grants from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and the European Union.
NanoStruct, founded in 2021 by Dr Henriette Maaß, Enno Schatz, and Kai Leibfried, makes nanostructured sensor chips that can detect dangerous bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella in food samples within hours. Right now, these tests usually take two to three days, which means contaminated products can reach stores before results come in.
Food recalls cost manufacturers millions and can seriously damage their reputation. Regulations are becoming stricter in Europe and the US, with authorities demanding faster, more thorough microbial testing throughout the supply chain. As a result, the global food safety testing market is growing, and manufacturers are seeking ways to meet these standards without slowing production. NanoStruct aims to solve a common problem for food producers, testing labs, and regulators.
NanoStruct’s sensor chips capture the unique molecular fingerprint of pathogens. The technology uses optical measurement, nanotechnology, and machine learning to spot harmful bacteria directly in food samples, so there’s no need for long culture processes. Instead of sending samples to a lab and waiting days for results, they are now available on-site the same day. This lets production facilities catch contamination before products are shipped, rather than dealing with recalls later.
The food safety testing market is dominated by established companies like bioMérieux, Neogen, and Hygiena, which focus on lab-based pathogen detection. Most use culture-based methods or PCR testing, which are accurate but slow. NanoStruct’s sensor-based method is faster and more automated, proving its technology works reliably at scale outside the lab.
“The technological breakthrough NanoStruct has achieved in sensor development is remarkable. In addition to the platform technology, we were convinced by the company’s strong network in the target market and, above all, by the team. I very much look forward to working with Henriette and the entire founding team,” says Dr Stephan Ruck, investment analyst at HTGF.
The fresh investment will support pilot projects with food-analysis customers, help set up a sales team, and enable NanoStruct to grow its staff. The company also plans to explore other markets, as its technology could be used for veterinary diagnostics, human health testing, and monitoring bacteria in pharmaceutical and industrial production.
